The Status of the Two Species of Lucilia (Diptera, Calliphoridae) Attacking Sheep in Austhalia

Abstract

Evidence presented demonstrates that L. cuprina and L. sericata are distinctspecies. A number of characters previously unrecognized are describedwhereby larvae and both sexes of adults of the two species may be recognizedwithout difficulty. The geographical distribution of the two species is different,as is also their habitat preference and their degree of attraction to living sheep.Furthermore, hybridization experiments indicate that there is great difficulty inobtaining successful matings. L. cuprina is the principal Australian sheepblowfly, whereas L. sericata is comparatively rare in sheep-raising country anddoes little damage. There are two subspecies of L. cuprina, one from theOriental and American regions (L. cuprina cuprina) and one from the Africanand Australian regions (L. cuprina dorsalis).